Sophy's Favorite Stuff

Beautiful and practical tablecloths

2007-12-25T21:38:00.000-08:00

These are lovely and very practical vinyl tablecloths that look like lace.

http://www.marlbil.com/G/index.html

More success

2007-12-24T23:44:00.001-08:00

The author of French Women Don't Get Fat recommends using a "zipper test" to gauge success on an eating plan. When I began trying to follow the FWDGT lifestyle in early November, I chose a pair of jeans that I've had for months and hadn't been able to wear. I could barely zip them, and only for an instant -- way too tight. After the first week, I could zip them easier and I thought I could perhaps wear the pants for an hour or so -- but not too long. Over the next weeks, there didn't seem to be much change in how the jeans fit (I try them on once a week), and some weeks they seemed as tight as ever.

Today I tried them on --- and I'm still wearing them 6 hours later! I am ecstatic! So, only five pounds lost, but my shape is changing and I have an incentive to keep the portions small this Christmas season.

"French Women" diet progress

2007-12-18T12:51:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to follow the French Women Don't Get Fat book for about six weeks. I've lost five pounds. I've stopped snacking in the morning, and I snack on yogurt in the afternoons. I'm down to two cups of cafeinnated beverages a day (actually none at all the last three days), and I feel happy with my progress. I bought a pedometer and I've been walking about 2 miles a day.

My new favorite online shoe store

2007-12-18T12:49:00.000-08:00

I just bought the coolest shoes from jadeboutique.com. I'd been coveting red shoes for about a month, since I saw a woman wearing red shoes with a black dress; she was at the French bakery and I think she was one of those elegant French women you read about. Anyway, the shoes arrived in less than a week and they are fabulous!
There is a promotion at jadeboutique.com for free shipping, so that was a nice bonus. And in the shoe box was a card saying, "We would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" followed by "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14" I don't know anything about this company, but I found that interesting in our era of "Happy Holidays." I was impressed, and I'll definitely order again.I think I need brown shoes now...

progress on my new eating plan

2007-11-11T12:50:00.000-08:00

I joined this forum last week: www.frenchwomendon'tgetfat.com, and I've been reading the book of the same name. The author of the book is active on the forum.

I don't have the eating plan all figured out, but I am encouraged by my first week. I only lost two pounds; on any other diet I would feel like that wasn't enough. But the French Women Don't Get Fat book is written in such a positive manner, it encourages me to think positively and to see the successes rather than the failures.

And I can see that I have actually made a huge change -- I'm not snacking in the afternoon! My lunches are big enough that I don't have to! Sometimes, I admit, I've saved my fruit from lunch and eaten it an hour or two later, but I'm not adding extra food in the afternoon. Or the morning either, now that I think about it.

I tried on some jeans that were terribly uncomfortable last week ... and this week I tried them on again. I feel like I could actually wear them for an hour or two if I wanted to.I love the fact that the book encourages you to make changes gradually. This seems healthier and more sensible than the "start Phase 1 tomorrow and eat this really strict diet for 2 weeks" idea of other plans I've looked at or tried.

Paisley Pashmina Shawls

2007-11-11T09:32:00.003-08:00

I bought four pashmina shawls on ebay yesterday!
(Here's one: (http://cgi.ebay.com/Stunning-70-Pash...QQcmdZViewItem).
I bought a silver one, a black one, a denim-blue one, and a green and black one. All have a bit of a paisley pattern. (I adore paisley in any form)
Now I just have to figure out how to wear them when they arrive! I think they'll be really practical for our moderate weather here in Vegas. And I'll feel like a regency era heroine (they were always wrapping themselves in pasmina shawls...).

Eating Plan

2007-11-09T11:24:00.001-08:00

http://www.frenchwomendontgetfat.com/home.asp

It isn't really a diet; it's a way to enjoy great food while remaining healthy.

The two books are French Women Don't Get Fat and French Women for All Seasons.

Dh and I are both trying this way of eating. It's similar to the dinners we eat anyway. Eating breakfast and lunch this way is really helping us to stop snacking.

Miss Read Thrush Green series

2007-11-05T17:07:00.000-08:00

My collection is complete! I've read most of these, but never in order -- I would just grab whatever was on the library shelf. Now, thanks to paperbackswap and half.com, they are all on my own bookshelf.

Thrush Green books:
Thrush Green 1959
Winter in Thrush Green 1961
News from Thrush Green 1970
Battles at Thrush Green 1975
Return to Thrush Green 1978
Gossip from Thrush Green 1981
Affairs at Thrush Green 1983
At Home in Thrush Green 1985
School at Thrush Green 1987
Friends at Thrush Green 1990
Celebrations at Thrush Green 1992
Year at Thrush Green 1995

D E Stevenson Books

2007-10-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

I have quite a collection of D E Stevenson books, and many of the characters are found in more than one book. Here's a website that lists the connections:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Garden/1024/character.html

Fragrance

2007-06-17T22:55:00.000-07:00

Cologne
Lady Stetson, by Coty
Red Door, by Estee Lauder
Lizsport, by Claiborne
Inis

Body Spray
Cinnamon Stick, by Calgon
Butterscotch Toffee, by Jessica Simpson
Lavender Fig, by the Healing Garden
Mandarintherapy, by the Healing Garden

Bath and Shower
Lavender Satin Soap, by Jason (makes great bubbles in the tub)

Celtic Music

2007-06-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

http://flameofwine.com/ Lasairfhiona, a celtic singer from the Aran Islands

Makeup

2007-03-08T15:14:00.000-08:00

My favorite makeup www.everydayminerals.com
I love the concealer, the foundations, the blush, the finishing powder, the eyeshadow/liner, and the bronzer. I don't love their lipgloss.

Lipbalm/light gloss: Rosebud Lip salve
I buy it on ebay. Gives lips a natural shine, and heals them in the cold winter and the hot dry summer.

Mascara: Lancome Definicils in the color Montage
I buy it on ebay. A lovely dark green color.

Craft Websites

2007-03-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

digitalscrapbookplace.com

a cherryontop.com (digital scrapbooking)

http://www.stampingwithstmpnshell.stampinup.net/ (rubber stamps and scrapbooking supplies; I buy my cardstock here)

Cookbooks

2007-03-07T18:31:00.000-08:00

12 Months of Monastery Soups http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Months-Monastery-Victor-Antoine-DAvila-Latourrette/dp/0892439319/ref=sr_1_1/104-2540364-6416767?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173321149&sr=1-1

12 Months of Monastery Salads http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Months-Monastery-Salads-Recipes/dp/1558323325/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2540364-6416767?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173321125&sr=8-1

South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook http://www.amazon.com/South-Beach-Diet-Quick-Cookbook/dp/1594862923/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2540364-6416767?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173321562&sr=1-1

Rachel Ray Express Lane Meals http://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Ray-Express-Lane-Meals/dp/1400082552/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2540364-6416767?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173321623&sr=1-1

Shopping Online

2007-03-07T17:34:00.000-08:00

www.everydayminerals.com My favorite makeup. Hypoallergenic and reasonably priced

www.christianbook.com

www.addall.com Compare book prices at many different websites

www.VikkisUsborneBooks.com Usborne Children's Books

Inspirational authors

2007-03-07T17:13:00.000-08:00

CHRISTIAN LIVING

Elizabeth George
Loving God with all Your Mind
A Woman after God's Own Heart
Powerful Promises for Every Woman

Ruth Myers
31 Days of Praise
31 Days of Prayer
31 Days of Power
The Satisfied Heart

Donald Miller
Blue Like Jazz (There are some really negative reviews of this book, apparently written by people who only read the first chapter. Give the book a try -- read at least half of it before you form an opinion. I found it life-changing.)
To Own a Dragon

Linda Dillow
Calm My Anxious Heart

POEMS AND PRAYERS

Ruth Harms Calkin
Precious Thoughts from the Heart

Northumberland Community
Celtic Daily Prayer

David Adams
Landscapes of Light
Island of Light

Favorite Authors

2007-03-07T16:48:00.000-08:00

Miss Read
charming stories set in English country villages
http://anglophilebooks.com/readbib.htm

D E Stevenson
cozy stories set in England around the time of the Second World War
My favorites are Miss Buncle's Book, Miss Buncle Married, Listening Valley (which is a sequel to Amberwell, although it stands alone very nicely), and The Four Graces.

Mysteries

2007-03-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

The Mrs. Pollifax series, by Dorothy Gilman

The Amelia Peabody series, by Elizabeth Peters

The Cadfael series, by Ellis Peters

Inspirational websites

2007-03-07T16:32:00.000-08:00

http://northumbriacommunity.org/PraytheOffice/morningprayer.html
Read the Celtic Daily Prayer online, with the daily scriptures.

Useful Websites

2007-03-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

www.fitday.com Track your calories online, free!

www.shutterfly.com Store your digital photos online, free. I like this website best because I can share photo links with my friends and family, and they can view them without joining shutterfly themselves.

www.addall.com Compare prices on books. Addall looks at many booksellers and tells me who has the best deal.

www.imdb.com Directory of actors and movies. For those times you see a familiar actor and you can't remember what other movie you've seen him in.

Fun Websites

2007-03-07T16:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.comics.com/index.html read the comics online

www.fbofw.com read the comic For Better Or For Worse online

www.reverendfun.com a Christian cartoon

http://www3.telus.net/yve/ All about the "real" Pride and Prejudice movie.

Homeschool Curriculum

2007-03-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

Winter Promise
winterpromise.com

Children's Books

2007-03-07T16:19:00.000-08:00

While You Were Sleeping
http://www.amazon.com/While-Were-Sleeping-Orchard-Picturebooks/dp/1841215899/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/104-2540364-6416767?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173313238&sr=1-2

The Fourteen Bears in Summer and Winter
http://www.amazon.com/While-Were-Sleeping-Orchard-Picturebooks/dp/1841215899/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/104-2540364-6416767?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173313238&sr=1-2

Prayer for a Child
http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Child-Anniversary-Rachel-Field/dp/0689873565/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2540364-6416767?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173313386&sr=1-1

I Am a Kitten (and I am a Bunny, by the same author)
http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Kitten-Ole-Risom/dp/0307621332/ref=sr_1_1/104-2540364-6416767?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173313457&sr=1-1

The Kipper books, by Mick Inkpen

Chat Forums

2007-03-07T16:18:00.000-08:00

hannah.org
Christian support for women who have experienced infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss

thehomeschoollibrary.com

Raw Websites/Forums

2007-03-07T16:14:00.001-08:00

Raw Pleasure http://raw-pleasure.com.au/ an Australian website about raw food, complete with chat forum and free e-book of recipes about raw food

Raw Pregnancy http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RawPregnancy Not just for pregnant mothers -- also for those who are trying to conceive, as well as nursing moms

Raw Food Talk http://rawfoodtalk.com/forum A forum for raw foodists, hosted by Alissa Cohen, author of Living on Live Foods (a book I don't own yet). Discussion and recommendations of other resources aren't highly encouraged. Many participants in this forum are 100% raw and vegan. There are a lot of spam posts, some with icky titles.

Raw Food Gurus http://www.rawguru.com/rawgurus.html Lists all the popular Raw Food authors and their websites.

Books About Raw Food

2007-03-07T16:13:00.000-08:00

I've been reading Carol Alt's book Eating in the Raw. A little too much chatter, but still interesting. I wish there was a little more guidance about putting a daily menu together. She recommends including these staples as you plan your menu: proteins (germinated nuts, sprouted seeds, raw cheeses, and raw or lightly seared meat and fish), long-chain carbohydrates (sprouted grains and sprouted grain breads and vegetables), and healthy fats (avocados, coconuts, and cold-pressed oils). But she doesn't give any suggested servings per day of each. It's odd that fruit is not mentioned in that list, as she talks about eating fruit all through the book. I also checked out The Raw Food Detox Diet. Too complicated. Eat one food group first thing in the morning, wait three hours, eat a different food group, never mix food groups....not practical for my life, not something I could stick with. I have ordered Instant Raw Sensations and Raw Food for Busy People.

My Favorite Author

2007-03-07T16:08:00.000-08:00

Books by Georgette Heyer

If you like Jane Austen, try one of the Historical Romances. I've sorted them here into My Favorites, and Others. The Others are good, but they just don't "sparkle" like my favorites and I don't feel they are the best representation of her writings.

If you like Agatha Christie, try one of the Mysteries!

Historical Romances
My Favorites
Arabella
Bath Tangle
Beauvallet (Elizabethan era)
Black Sheep
Charity Girl
Cotillion
Devil’s Cub
False Colors
Faro’s Daughter
Frederica
Friday’s Child
Lady of Quality
Pistols for Two (short stories)
Powder and Patch
Regency Buck
Sprig Muslin
Sylvester
The Corinthian
The Foundling
The Grand Sophy
The Masqueraders
The Nonesuch
The Quiet Gentleman
The Reluctant Widow
The Talisman Ring
The Toll-Gate
The Unknown Ajax
These Old Shades

Other Historical Romances – worth reading, better than any contemporary author, but not quite as “sparkling” as the ones above (in my opinion)
A Civil Contract
April Lady
Cousin Kate
Simon the Coldheart (medieval)
The Black Moth
The Convenient Marriage

Historical Novels, not as much “storyline”.
Don't pick up one of these hoping for a Jane Austen-type experience...
An Infamous Army
The Great Roxhythe
My Lord John
Royal Escape
Spanish Bride
The Conqueror

Contemporary Mysteries (30s England)
A Blunt Instrument
Behold, Here's Poison
Death in The Stocks ( or Merely Murder)
Detection Unlimited
Duplicate Death
Envious Casca
Footsteps in The Dark
No Wind of Blame
Penhallow
The Unfinished Clue
They Found Him Dead
Why Shoot a Butler?

"Contemporary" Romances (written when she was much younger, probably not interesting unless you’re a fan collecting Heyer books)
Barren Corn
Helen
Instead of the Thorn
Pastel

One of the biggest accomplishments of my life: I own every single one of these books except My Lord John.

Here Am I

2006-12-03T10:15:00.000-08:00

East Window
-- an article by Velma Cozzutto

Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will name him John. Luke 1: 13
Mary…you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you will name him Jesus. Luke 1:31

When our fourth and last child was on the way, we more or less expected another daughter after we already had three. We even had a name picked for her. To our delighted surprise, we had a son and had to change Linda to Lyndon.
Long before ultrasound took the suspense out of most births, both Elizabeth and Mary knew the gender and the name of their child before birth. The only question would be who they took after in physical features. John could look like his father, but Jesus' physical features would have to come from Mary's family. Both children would be the only son of their fathers, John of Zechariah and Jesus of His Heavenly Father.
When our son was born, one big change was that I couldn't hand clothes down from an older child and there would be other accommodations for a male child. For Mary and Elizabeth, their lives became part of earth-shaping events that dramatically changed any established way of life. Elizabeth welcomed the son that would take away the disgrace of childlessness. Mary must have had sleepless nights over the prospect of the disgrace of pregnancy without marriage. Yet she said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."
And isn't that the secret of our being a blessing to the world, just accepting the role He has for us to play and trusting Him through any consequences?

Father, the world so badly needs "Here am I" people today. Help us make ourselves truly available. --Velma Cozzutto (Velma is a friend who allows me to post her articles on my blog)

His Appointment

2006-11-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

East Window
--by Velma Cozzutto

Many years ago, among other poetry I collected, there was this one that I've resorted to again and again. An unattributed author wrote:
"Disappointment, His appointment;
Change one letter, then I see
That the thwarting of my purpose
Was God's better plan for me."
I dusted it off again this past Saturday. Through a whole series of incidents in which I could see God's provision in contacts, I was offered a book-signing occasion at the Paisley Penguin downtown in Aberdeen. It offered a real opportunity for both of us in bringing in customers for them and book sales for me on the Open House day when merchants offered drink and goodies to the many who would be out for the occasion.I had prepared for the day, even ordered in a few more books. Steve Armes at the shop had done such a nice job of advertising on the radio, in their window, flyers handed out, etc.
Well, on Saturday morning we were greeted with a wind and rainstorm like one we haven't had for a long time. Maybe it would let up, I hoped. It didn't. Downtown streets were empty except for an occasional well-protected brave soul. On this Monday, the wind is still lashing the rain against the window.
I could have felt disappointed that the day had turned out so differently. Yet, too many things had worked together for good. First, my son showed up instead of my daughter-in-law with whom I had made arrangement to help me. That was okay because I enjoy spending time with him and I knew that he with his art ability would enjoy meeting Steve and Valerie Armes whose gifts and used book shop displayed a lot of Valerie's art work for sale. Next, we got a parking spot directly in front of the back entrance. Then throughout the two hours we spent there, because there were almost no customers, we had a special time in getting to know the Armes and Brianna, their teen-aged daughter. We had so much in common, both in life experience and way of thinking.
Because I know God doesn't waste anything, I had to wonder what it was that was more important than the book sale. Was it some reinforcement of the fellowship and faith we experienced together? Was it for Brianna, an exceptional young woman who has such wisdom for one her age? Was it for my encouragement to find how strong some of our young people are in the face of everything they face today? Was there more for my son than the order for an emblem design desired by the Coffee Bean Café next door and time spent with another artist?
Or was it all of these? When I got up in the middle of the night, the storm was quiet for the moment and clouds had thinned. Noticing unusual light for the night, I looked up and a full moon was shining directly overhead. It seemed like a benediction and a "mission accomplished" signal. Whatever the mission was, I'm not flattering myself that God arranged the storm and moon just for me, but it was rewarding to feel I had somehow been directly involved in His big plan.

--Velma Cozzutto
Note: Velma's own faith journey is told in a just-published book entitled, When Your Father Says, "Come With Me" ; it's available on Amazon.com.